The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes: A single-centre case series in Western India

Abstract

To study the effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken in a tertiary Covid Care Centre (CCC), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The study was conducted from 1st April 2021 to 30th June 2021. A total of 22 symptomatic antenatal patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR method were included. The mean age of the mothers was 30.2 ± 4.0 years and the mean gestational age was 29.7 ± 9.1 weeks. Six (27.3%) patients required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. 63.7% of the subjects required respiratory support i.e. 40.9% with nasal oxygen therapy and 22.7% with invasive ventilation. Six Intrauterine fetal death were also recorded. Only two neonates (born at 37 and 38 weeks of gestation, respectively) both with low Apgar scores at 1st minute & 5th minute experienced respiratory distress and required neonatal ICU (NICU) admission. Among them, only one neonatal death was recorded because of the diffuse exudative lesions & lung whiteout. The current study had the maternal mortality rate of 13.6% (3/22) owing to various medical complications with two of them succumbing to multiple organ failure with Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) & one patient to sepsis with DIC. The clinical course of COVID‐19 during pregnancy appears to be unique to each patient, with a higher incidence of DIC and multiorgan failure. Hence, a multidisciplinary team approach is vital in individualising the timing, mode for delivery, and course of management in these patients.